State Senator calls gay lawmaker coming out a political mistake

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania State Senator John H. Eichelberger Jr. recently made controversial statements regarding fellow lawmaker Mike Fleck’s (R) decision to come out as gay two years ago. As reported by The Huffington Post, Eichelberger stated in an interview with the Atloona Mirror that the move will have a negative impact on Fleck’s political career, and his being reelected.

Eichelberger is quoted as stating in the interview, “A lot of people thought that Mike was a homosexual… He didn’t announce it and it was OK. The feeling from many people is, he put them in a very uncomfortable position.”

He is further quoted as stating, “if [Fleck] had just gone about his business and people thought he was a homosexual or heterosexual or whatever, there wouldn’t be a problem.”

Fleck stated in an earlier Facebook post about his decision, “I am gay. I don’t wear it on my sleeve, it doesn’t define who I am, and quite frankly it’s the least interesting part about me. Nevertheless, I knew that when I came out this race would be nothing more, nothing less than whether my constituency could wrap their mind around the fact that I was a gay man. People fear that which is different.”

Fleck was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2006.